SB 1424
bill letting more community colleges offer bachelor’s degrees
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to authorization by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for certain public junior colleges to offer certain baccalaureate degree programs.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Education degree programs join applied science on the list.
The bill widens which community colleges the state coordinating board may let offer four-year bachelor's degrees, adding colleges that offer an education degree program alongside those in applied science fields. It touches public junior colleges, the coordinating board, and students seeking bachelor's degrees at community colleges. On the ground, an eligible community college could offer up to eight bachelor's programs at once instead of five, starting with the 2025-2026 academic year.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Feb 19, 2025 and referred to the Senate Education K-16 committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-SB1424 · 2025-02-19
SOLD BY
+ 1 coauthor
ITEM
relating to authorization by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for certain public junior colleges to offer certain baccalaureate degree programs.
WHAT IT DOES
Education degree programs join applied science on the list.
The bill widens which community colleges the state coordinating board may let offer four-year bachelor's degrees, adding colleges that offer an education degree program alongside those in applied science fields. It touches public junior colleges, the coordinating board, and students seeking bachelor's degrees at community colleges. On the ground, an eligible community college could offer up to eight bachelor's programs at once instead of five, starting with the 2025-2026 academic year.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Received by the Secretary of the Senate
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Education K-16
- Co-author authorized
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Oct 27, 2024 to Jun 30, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$40,000.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$40,000.00
- Cash
- $40,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $40,000.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 11, 2024 to Jun 30, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100982305, 101012314.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$40,000.00
- Cash
- $40,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $40,000.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Dec 11, 2024 to Jun 30, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 100982305, 101012314.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
How this was graded
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas Senate · Filed Feb 19, 2025
03/06/2025 S Referred to Education K-16
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
Senate committee · Education K-16 · Final status: Died in committee
Companion
HB 2893 by Patterson (very similar)
Subjects
Education--Higher--Institutions & Programs
Education--Junior College Districts
HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD, TEXAS
Text
The text as introduced · 245 words
By: Paxton S.B. No. 1424 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to authorization by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for certain public junior colleges to offer certain baccalaureate degree programs. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 130.303(b), Education Code, is amended to read as follows: (b) The coordinating board may authorize baccalaureate degree programs at one or more public junior colleges if the public junior college: (1) offers [ thatoffer ] a degree program in one of the following: (A) the field of applied science, including a degree program in the field of applied science with an emphasis in early childhood education, applied technology, or nursing ; or (B) the field of education; and (2) demonstrates [ have dcmonstratcd ] a workforce need for the program . SECTION 2. Section 130.306(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) A public junior college offering a baccalaureate degree program under this subchapter may not offer more than eight [ fivc ] baccalaureate degree programs at any time. SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.